Best of Honolulu 2019: The Best of Fitness and Outdoor on O‘ahu

The 9 editorial and reader picks for the best ways to get out and active.

September 3, 2019

James Charisma, Martha Cheng, Katrina Valcourt, Don Wallace, Christi Young,

Editor Picks

Best Place for Sunset Zip Lines

Photo: Thinkstock

Zip lines here will take you high above the Windward Side, North Shore and even a mini golf course. But only one place will let you soar as the sun sets and wraps it all up with a round of s’mores. Coral Crater Adventure Park transformed a dusty open field in Kapolei into zip lines, a climbing tower and ATV trails. And every Thursday, owner Jim Owen opens at night so people can zip around at twilight and after dark from lit platforms. The package started as a Valentine’s Day special, but in 2019 it became a weekly event that includes the full ride on the park’s six zip lines and a s’mores break. Don’t forget closed-toe shoes and to ask for the 15% kama‘āina discount. And use the park’s online map to navigate. GPS still has some problems finding it.—Christi Young

91-1780 Midway St., Kapolei, 626-5773, coralcrater.com

Best U-Pick Farm

Photo: enjy el-kadi

It started with a 10-by-10-foot community garden in Kuli‘ou‘ou. When Keiki and Plow founders Heather Mohr and her husband, Ryan, saw how much fun their kids had playing there, an idea was born. A few years later, the couple’s nonprofit farm, in the hills just behind Kaiser High, has become a favorite place for local families and green-space-starved urbanites to pick their own vegetables. Select your size of basket ($10 to $40) and pull up everything from kale and lettuce to carrots, herbs and bananas. There are often surprises. We’ve stumbled across sugar cane and sunflowers in past visits. You can also leave with fresh eggs from Keiki and Plow’s rambunctious chickens and, if you’re lucky, a batch of local honey to top everything off. Be warned: The farm is only open to pickers a few days a week, usually mornings, and if you bring little ones, they may never want to leave the outdoor kitchen play area and swing-adorned tree.—CY

587 Pakala St., (208-2740, keikiandplow.com

SEE ALSO: 24 Hikes We Really Like

Best Public Pool

Photo: david croxford

Frankly, the best public pool is the one closest to you, or if you’re a serious swimmer, then the closest 50-meter pool, such as those in Pālolo, Mānoa, Salt Lake and Waipi‘o. But we have to agree with one of the lifeguards at the Kāne‘ohe District Park pool: “I think it’s the best pool on the island.” It’s large and deep—50 meters by 25 yards and up to 13 feet deep—and if the long laps don’t take your breath away, then the view will. The Ko‘olau mountains rear up beside it and, during morning swims, clouds cling to the top of the range like the bleary AM haze in your head, waiting to be cleared away by an invigorating dip.—Martha Cheng

45-660 Kea‘ahala Road, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 768-8994

Best Way to Get Advice from a Master Gardener

Don’t know the difference between spinach and squash? Head to the Second Saturday at the Garden event at O‘ahu Urban Garden Center, where you can learn about topics such as container gardening, garden pests and pollinators. Volunteers and master gardeners—those who have received training in horticultural education and sustainable practices as part of a nationally recognized program—hold demonstrations and activities every second Saturday, February through October, and answer any questions you may have. Many workshops are free and include take-home samples. You can also buy seeds and tour the garden for inspiration.—Katrina Valcourt

955 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City, (808) 453-6050, ctahr.hawaii.edu

Reader Picks

Best Pilates/Barre

Photo: courtesy of the bar method

Barre exercises have been around since the early 1960s, but this workout system (intended to sculpt the body—namely arms, abs, butt and thighs—through movements derived from ballet exercises) has had a major resurgence in recent years. At The Bar Method, workout sessions begin with warm-ups, upper-body exercises and pushups, followed by leg and seat work to maximize your core. Your own weight creates natural resistance for any fitness level. And with various classes running an hour or less, The Bar Method’s perfect for a visit before the workday begins or even during lunch.—James Charisma

Mutiple locations, barmethod.com